San Diego rallies from 4-0 down to stun Arizona in Mexico City opener

MEXICO CITY: San Diego staged a stunning comeback from a four-run deficit to defeat Arizona 6-4 in the opening game of the 2026 Mexico City Series on Saturday.

The Diamondbacks looked in control early after taking a 4-0 lead, highlighted by a two-run homer from Alek Thomas, who celebrated his Mexican heritage by entering the field draped in his country’s flag.

However, the Padres turned the game on its head with a dominant late surge. Ty France sparked the fightback with two solo home runs before San Diego exploded in a chaotic four-run seventh inning to seal the victory.

The decisive inning saw the Padres capitalize on Arizona’s mistakes, combining timely hitting with three walks, an error, a balk, and two sacrifice flies. Gavin Sheets delivered the key blow with a two-run single.

Arizona’s struggles were compounded when shortstop Geraldo Perdomo exited the game with a sprained left ankle after committing an error during the rally.

With the win, San Diego maintained its perfect record in Mexico City Series history and continued its strong form, having won 13 of its last 15 games.

“We never give up, especially in a ballpark like this,” a Padres team official said, praising the team’s resilience and ability to respond under pressure.

Despite the defeat, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo remained optimistic, pointing to positive moments and expressing confidence his side could bounce back in the series finale.

San Diego’s Michael King is set to face Arizona’s Kyle Nelson in the second and final game of the series on Sunday at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú.